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APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF RIBBED GLASS SHEETS l'rignal Filed Sept. 13, 1965 18 Sheets-Sheet 1'? Oct. 27, 1970 H. DlscFzYy 3,536,455

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.75,128 1o FIG24H- United States Patent O 3,536,465 APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF RIBBED GLASS SHEETS Henri Discry, Ixelle, Belgium, assignor to Glaverbel, Brussels, Belgium Original application Sept. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 486,732, now Patent No. 3,459,525, dated Aug. 5, 1969. Divided and this application Apr. 24, 1969, Ser. N o. 818,958 Claims priority, application Luxembourg, Sept. 17, 1964,

The portion of the term of the patent subsequent to Aug. 5, 1986, has been disclaimed Int. Cl. C03b 13/08 U.S. Cl. 65- 245 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Sheets of glass having at least one surface with ribs are produced in apparatus in which a mobile, grooved support is adapted for longitudinal advancement, and a rotary roller is disposed above said support a distance equal to the thickness of the sheet of glass to be produced upon the passage of molten glass between the roller and mobile support. The support is constructed as interarticulated carriages supporting spaced shoes, between which are formed the grooves, the shoes being removed from the sheet at a location where it is desired to remove the glass sheet from the support. The glass sheet is cut to width by longitudinal cutters, mounted on the carriages, which coact with idle rollers coaxially arranged with respect to the rotary roller and nearly in contact with the cutters.

CROSS-RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of my earlier application Ser. No. 486,732 filed Sept. 13, 1965, and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,459,525.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for the production of sheets of glass at least one surface of which is provided with ribs. More particularly, the invention is directed to apparatus of the above type in which a roller forces molten glass into grooves formed in a moving support advancing at a distance from the roller equal to the thickness of the sheet to be produced.

Apparatus of this kind is known in which the moving or mobile support comrises a roller having longitudinal and transverse grooves. In this apparatus, a second roller forces the molten glass into the grooves so that transverse and longitudinal ribs are formed in the sheet of glass emerging from the outlet of the rollers. The ribbed sheet of glass is then carried towards an annealing chamber by conveyor rollers, possibly after its heating, in order to allow the welding of its ribs to a smooth sheet which is brought into contact with the ribbed sheet immediately after its production.

This known apparatus is only applicable for the production of ribbed sheets whose ribs are of a height not exceeding a few millimeters, for instance, four millimeters. As the transverse ribs of the sheet free themselves from the longitudinal groove of the grooved roller, immediately after having been formed in this roller, the ribs move forward with the sheet at a speed equal to the peripheral speed of the grooved roller, while the speed of rotation component of the grooves in the direction of feed of the sheet decreases more and more. The disengagement of rectangular transverse ribs is therefore only possible if their height is kept small. If their height was high it would be necessary to give them a trapezoidal 3,536,455 Patented Oct. 27, 1970 ice form whose large base is very much larger in comparison with its parallel shorter side. Furthermore, the longitudinal ribs of the sheet of glass formed in the transverse grooves of the grooved roller are subjected to deformation because their head in contact with the bottom of the grooves advances at a speed which is less than the speed of forward feed of the sheet formed, this latter speed being equal to the peripheral speed of the part of the grooved roller comprised between the transverse grooves. These deformations of the longitudinal ribs increase in proportion with increase in height of the ribs and there is even a risk of tearing the glass which has cooled in contact with the grooved roller.

This drawback does not exist when, in order to form vsmall square glass pieces designed for use in mosaic covering of about two millimeters thickness, hot glass is rolled by means of a smooth roller on an endless table provided with cutters of triangular section which are at right angles with one another, which embed themselves in the sheet of glass through practically its whole thickness in order that after cooling of the sheet, the thin layer of glass which exists at the bottom of the grooves separating the squares can easily be crumbled, leaving only the desired squares of glass.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus by which it is possible to produce a sheet of glass provided with ribs whose surfaces are substantially parallel, whatever the height of the ribs.

The apparatus in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the above-mentioned mobile support is an endless rolling table formed by at least one set of successive shoes which are driven by interarticulated carriages rolling on guides, transverse grooves being provided in the rolling table between the upper portions of the shoes and means are provided to remove these shoes from the glass sheet at the point where it is desired to effect removal from the mold.

In the case where the rolling table comprises several juxtaposed sets of successive shoes, longitudinal grooves corresponding to the width of longitudinal ribs to be produced in the sheet are provided between the upper parts of the shoes of the different juxtaposed sets.

The transverse or longitudinal grooves are, for example, formed in the edges of the shoes.

In a more advantageous form, the bottom of the grooves is formed by the upper art of metal sheets mounted on the carriages, between the shoes, and supporting the glass sheet while the shoes are removed from it. Since the shoes constituting the roller table are removed from the glass sheet and free the ribs before inclining in relation to them, the likelihood of the transverse ribs being broken during removal from the mould is removed. Furthermore, because of the fact that a transverse rib already removed from the mould on one side continues to be supported by the metal sheets mounted on the carriages while it is removed from the mould on the other side, the part of the sheet of glass situated above the shoes which are being removed from it continues likewise to be supported in front of these shoes during the removal from the mould and there is no danger for this part to be broken.

According to an advantageous feature, the above-mentioned metal sheets are mounted so as to be removable. It is then possible to manufacture with ease, glass sheets Whose ribs are of different heights.

In order to be able to produce continuously a ribbed glass sheet having constant width, there is also provided in the apparatus in accordance with the invention cutters on some of the above-mentioned shoes extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rolling table and arranged in such a way as to separate the marginal strips of the sheet from its central strip at the point where the hot glass is pressed on the rolling table by the above-mentioned rotary roller.

Preferably, the above-mentioned longitudinal cutters come almost in contact with idle rollers mounted at the ends of the above-mentioned rotary roller.

In an advantageous form of embodiment these idle rollers are coaxial with the rotary roller and have a diameter greater than that of the roller.

Other features and details of the invention will appear in the course of the description of the drawings attached to this specification, which represent diagrammatically and solely by way of example, several embodiments of the apparatus in accordance with the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. la is a side view of part of a first embodiment of the apparatus in accordance with the invention, to the left of line A-B;

FIG. 1b is a side view of part of the same apparatus, situated to the right of line A-B;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken along line II-II in FIG. la;

FIG. 3a is a side view of the part of the apparatus represented in FIG. la, in part longitudinal section as taken along line III-IIII in FIG. 4, and partly broken away to show the cam associated with removal from the mould;

FIG. 3b is a side view of the part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1b as taken along line III-III in FIG. 4, and partly broken away to show the support arrangement for the carriages at the position where the glass is pressed on the shoes;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view as taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3a;

FIG. 5 represents diagrammatically in plan a part of the rolling table forming part of the apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section at a part of the rolling table at the point preceding removal from mould, this section being in the axis of a shoe, part of which has been removed;

FIG. 6a represents a part of FIG. 6 on a larger scale;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section of the rolling table at the point where the removal from mould has just been effected, this section being taken in the axis of a shoe;

FIG. 8 is partly broken away, a part section at the level of the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 6 and a plan view 0f part of the rolling table in accordance with the invention showing certain details of one of the drive chains of this table, the articulation between the successive carriages and the transverse connection between the adja cent sets of shoes;

FIG. 9 is a vertical section similar to that in FIGS. 6 and 7, showing another position of the ring which, in this last figure assists in locking the rod of a shoe in relation to the sleeve in which this rod is arranged;

FIG. 10 is a section similar to that in FIGS. 6 and 7, showing a position of the shoe permitting it to be raised;

FIG. 11 is a cross-section, partly broken away, at the point where there is a device designated to keep the different sets of shoes and carriages in contact with one another in the desired alignment for the rolling table;

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal section in the central part of the rolling table carrying transverse cutters, this section being taken along the line XII-XII in FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the part of the rolling table where these transverse cutters are arranged;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a component carrying a transverse cutter;

FIG. 15a is a longitudinal section as taken along the line XV-XV in FIG. 16, showing another arrangement of the driving mechanism causing the rolling table to move forward in the part of an apparatus situated to the left of a line C-D;

4 FIG. 15b is a longitudinal section of the part of the same apparatus to the right of the line C-D;

FIG. 16 is a view in elevation, with crosssection of the apparatus in FIG. 15a, this section being taken along the line XVI-XVI in FIG. 15a;

FIG. 17 is a section of one of the ends of the rolling table showing a third arrangement of the driving mechanism moving this table forward;

FIG. 18 is a vertical section of a variant of part of the rolling table, this section being taken in the axis of a shoe;

FIG. 19 is a horizontal section corresponding to the line XIX-XIX in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a vertical section in the variant of' the rolling table represented in FIG. 18, at the point at which removal from mould has just been effected, part of the shoe and the components with Which it is integral, being shown in elevation;

FIG. 21a is a view in elevation of the part of another embodiment of the apparatus in accordance with the invention, situated to the left of a line E-F;

FIG. 2lb is a view in elevation of the part of the same apparatus situated to the right of the line E-F;

FIG. 22 is a cross-section passing through the axis of a pivot, in a part of a variant of the apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 23 is a cross-section showing another method of fixing a longitudinal metal sheet on a carriage;

FIG. 24 is a cross-section in a variant of the rotary roller forcing the glass into grooves of the rolling table and idle rollers mounted at the ends of this roller;

FIG. 24a represents, on a larger scale, a part of FIG. 24.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to `4 comprises a rotary roller 2 which presses the glass 3 emerging from a furnace 4 on a mobile support formed by a rolling table 5 moving forward continuously in the direction of the arrow X. This rolling table passes at a distance from the rotary roller 2 equal to the thickness of the sheet of glass 6 to be produced. The table comprises essentially two successive sets of shoes 7 (see FIG. 5). In each set these shoes are driven by interarticulated carriages 8. These carriages are provided with rollers 9 which roll on guides 10 having a straight part beyond a point 11 where the rolling table moves away from the above-mentioned roller. In each set of shoes there are provided transverse grooves 12. These grooves 12 are deeper than the height of the ribs which could be produced by forcing glass 3 into grooves formed in a rolling roller in the case where a grooved rolling roller would be used. These transverse grooves 12 are provided in the rolling table 5 between the facing surfaces 13 (FIGS. 6 and 7) of the shoes. The shoes are mounted on articulated carriages 8 1n such a way that they can be removed from contact with the glass sheet. This removal is effeced over a depth at least equal to the depth of the transverse grooves -12 formed between successive shoes of each set. It is in a lowered position that the shoe 7 is represented in lts entirety in FIG. 7.

Metal sheets 14 (FIGS. 6 and 7) whose upper edge 15 forms the bottom of the grooves 12, are mounted in front of the shoes on the corresponding carriages 8. The prevent the lowering of transverse ribs 16 of the glass sheet 6 formed by the forcing of the glass into the grooves 12 due to the roller 2, when the shoes 7 are removed from the sheet 6.

Means for removing the shoes from the glass sheet 6 to a level substantially equal to that of the upper edge 15 of the metal sheets 14 are provided at a position such as 17 (FIG. 3a) through which the shoes pass before the corresponding carriages leave the straight parts of the guides 10. The length of the straight parts is such that when the shoes are removed from the ribbed glass 

